How To Make Previews from Movies

[coolman]

Some members want a tutorial to post preview pictures of video files.
There are many ways to create screenshots and I will try to show you some.
This lil HOW TO is only for PC users with the microsoft windows operating system.
Maybe a mac user (hello thanthan) can make a tutorial for mac users here on the board.

For all the other, AMIGA, ATARI, LINUX, BeOS users....
I THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO
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Ok, let's start for the 'windows-lamer'
1st ... if you can't view all the videos arround the world wide web with the windows build in player, you need a 3rd party player and codecs.
I am using two different players. One is the VLC Player with all codecs inside, they is avaiable 4 some platforms.
And one is the mediaplayer classic, what comes with the K-lite codec pack.

Here are the downloads 4 you:

VLC Player

K-Lite Codec Pack with Media Player classic

Now let's make the previews:

1st: Start your build in Application Paint and create a new Picture with a resolution of 10x10 pixels. We need this to insert a snapshot from the player window in this 'picture' and don't have some borders after paste.

2nd: Now start the video by clicking twice on the movie file or start the player and open the video file with the build in menue.
On a special point of the video you can click pause and press the key-combination ALT-PrtScn to make a snapshot from the active window only.



If you press the PrtScn Key only, you will make a snapshot of the full desktop. That's not what we need.

3rd: Now switch to the Paint programm and press Ctrl-V or use the build in menue Edit--->Paste to insert the snapshot from the video file.

or

Now you can save this picture as a jpg File and going to step 2 to make some more preview pictures.

On the same way you can create a screenshot from your browser window if you want to make a screenshot from a youtube video.

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One other very easy way to make cool and professional previews of a movie is to use the build in function of media player classics.

1st: Start the mediaplayer classic and open the video.
2nd: Use the menue File --> Save Thumbnails...



In the window to save the preview you can change the settings of your final preview image.
Select a resolution and how much Thumbnails you want in your picture and let's create this by Media Player Classic.
The result should be look like this lil preview.




If you have problems, black player window by paste the screenshot or the build in function dosn't work, you can change some direct show options on the media player to fix it.



Use one of this points and restart the player after you change the settings.
Now try again to make snapshots or Thumbnails. On my office machine it works with the settings from this screenshots.

I hope this lil HOW TO helps some members here.

And for all, who want the funny movie from this tut, klick this
See ya, your Coolman.

[mrs.coolman]

I don´t need this one. I know someone, which do that for me.
But thanks nevertheless.

[burmese]

good work mr.coolman............for dummis as me

greetings burmese

[felix]

Excellent tutorial! Great work coolman!

[USMCfirefighter]

Thank you Sir!!!
BRAVO, BRAVO

[IoSoS]

Hell just get a prog called "Image Grabber" one click, one click, easy to beat your ****, but fo real itz easier

[coolman]

thx 4 the info, but to grab the screenshot is not all I talk about in my tutorial.
soms members also have problems to PLAY the movies.